mek_man

i guess i wasn’t the only one!

this cracked me up.  A great followup to my previous post!

Vacca, vacca, vacca.

tools..

so I grew up having every tool that exists in my grasps.  Growing up my dad taught my sibs and I that you can work on your cars, build your own devices, and do your own modifications to whatever you need to with the right determination and tools.  Not only will this help you expand your knowledge base, but it will also save you a bunch of money on not paying labor/service/installation costs.

So moving to California a few years ago was actually very hard to get adjusted to..  mainly because I didn’t have access to all the luxuries my folks had provided for me.  No more nice tools, no more amazing home cooked meals, no more top shelf liquor!, no more a bunch of stuff…  The past few years I have slowly been working up to have all those things I took for granted.  On Valentine’s Day I bought myself a nice little present to myself!  It was a 154 piece Craftsman tool set.  I have had your basic tools since I moved out here, but a few screwdrivers, a hammer wasn’t going to cut it..  especially with my passion to work on little hobby projects.

Here it is!

The set is pretty cool and cost me $99 plus tax from Sears.  It has for the most part everything I need.  I still need to grab a set of breaker-bars and pliers.

Down the line I am planning on getting a very nice and pricey Dewalt 18V cordless drill and saw combo.  I think that should do it for all I want to work on…  oh wait!  I want to get a Dremel too!  I have been thinking about building a new dining table for quite sometime.  The dremel’s routing tools are perfect to give that nice fancy edging to any table.

ipsa scientia potestas est

no a2dp.. no problem… (part 4)

before reading this post make sure you read the previous post.

I did get a nice little answer to my last question..

mek_man: I realized I forgot to ask, will the BluStream allow for AVRCP across bluetooth?  So if track forward on the radio is pressed it will advance the next track playing via a2dp?

AAMP of America: It will…but oddly enough not on the iPhone.  That is a limitation of the iPhone right now and Apple may do a firmware update to correct.  On the Droid it does work.

mek_man: Great! I am sold.   Do you know the price?  I will likely but a few.

AAMP of America: Unfortunately, I do not know the price as of yet.  I want to say $99.95 but I am not positive.

_________

So that wraps that quest up..  I have determined that the PXAMG unit is the right fit for my car!  =)

So I went off to go spend some green.. and bought the following:

• PXAMG = $55.00 (off ebay) [RETAIL = $189.99]
• ANYCOM FIPO = $10.98 (off ebay) [$44.95]
• Droid Case and Dock + 5′ Micro USB Cable = $56.61 (SiedioOnline.com) [Retail = $62.90]
• USB Car Charger = $2.75 (off ebay) [Retail = $12.99]
• Cigarette Lighter Socket = $2.39 (Parts Express) [Retail = $2.99]
• Add-A-Fuse = $7.45 (Parts Express) [Retail = $9.99]
• Misc?? = $10 (can’t think of anything, but let’s give an allowance)

This all totals to a whopping $145.18.  Keep in mind that if you don’t care to have your phone in a nice dock, or have it charge in a way that cables are hidden, this wouldn’t cost you more than $75.00.  That is also only if you know how to hunt for deals!

All that green allowed me to do this..

All setup and ready to go.  Pop my phone in the nice dock that charges it (soon!) and it pairs automatically with my car!

Now some step by step pictures of what I did to my car!  (I missed a few pictures in the process, so sorry in advance, but I will talk through them!)

Sky with the top down ready for operation..

Man my carpets are dirty!!  All that rain in California has been a pain.  PXAMG unit with harness and iPod cable waiting to be installed.  Have to start by popping the paneling on the side off.

Same goes for this side

Center console..  Really I need to get behind the radio to install the unit!

Steering wheel with radio controls.  Remember my goal is to have these work when I press them with the a2dp enabled device!

Gotta remove the glove compartment too.

Popped that sucker off using a plastic putty knife..  Don’t want to scratch my baby.

Same thing here..

To remove the glove compartment you have to pull these pins out.

It comes out pretty easily, but it had a cord attached to it that needs to be popped out.

Another shot of the same.

Close up of the cord.

Glove compartment sitting on my lap.

Behind the glove compartment.  Where I plan to mount the PXAMG unit.. easy access to update firmware and at the BluStream if I deem necessary.

Drivers side lower panel needed to be removed.  It had three fasteners that needed to be pulled out.  They will probably need to be replaced if I do this a few more times as they are plastic clips and all.

The other two that I had to pull out.

Panel disconnected.

I removed the upper panel, but it had two electrical connections that needed to be removed.

More of the same..

Had to pop the screw covers off to get the passenger paneling off.

This came out pretty easily.  Had to disconnect the trunk release.

Prying the top of the piano black panel was killing me!  I didn’t want to crack it or scuff it.

Finally got it off.. also took the main stereo cover off at the same time.

It was stuck due to the shifter being in Park.

Had to put the car in neutral and remove the cover.

Radio came out really easily.

Started to connect the harness.

The harness needs to be connected in a certain way depending on the car you have.  Pretty easy stuff.

Shizam!  iPod Control!

No I don’t have a pink iPod.  It is the lady’s.  Easiest one to grab at the time..  Honest! I swear!! O=)

She had Aerosmith playing..  I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing.  Unfortunately, my camera’s battery died at this point.  I could of resorted to using the Droid to take pictures, but I was tired from all the work I had done..  So I packed the car back up and recharged the battery while doing so..   I guess I did miss a thing (or two)! ; )

All packed up and wired.  This is where I located the iPod cable.

This is the FIPO unit connected to the dock.

Almost done.  The dock is mounted, but I haven’t had a chance to hide the power cable.   I am going to route it behind the unit to the windshield then down the side of the car to the fuse box.  At the fuse box I will add a circuit and hide the power cable in there.

Navigation built into my phone all plays through my head unit now! : )

Wow!  That was a lot of work..  Still have to do a little more to wire up the power to the dock.  I am working at a few more angles for this.  I think the FIPO is a working solution, but I think it needs some refinement.  I don’t think it has the high end frequencies to hit all ranges of the audio.  So it looks like I might need to look in to the BluStream, but for now I have a working solution!

Ad astra per aspera

an oldie.. but a goodie! (aka OBG)

so I did this a while ago for my 07 Pontiac Torrent..  I never really took the time to post it.  This was mainly because I didn’t have my blog up and running when I did it.  This is from 17 Oct 09.

My 07 Pontiac Torrent did not come with Bluetooth, XM, USB, or iPod control.  Somewhat of a bummer, but then again no GM car in 07 came with that stuff.  So I went with what I knew could do all this stuff…  which is a Parrot Bluetooth Kit MKi-9200 and the appropriate harness for a GM 11bit CAN bus system.

Here are the install pics..

Main dash cluster prior to installation

Steering wheel prior to installation

Only one panel to remove in this installation… the center one!  It is kind of a pain though.  You need to leave the car in neutral and remove the shift lever.  To top it all off you need to disconnect a million and one cables attached to that panel.  Oh well…

Close up of the radio

Radio removed

Back of radio

I have attached the harness for the parrot kit.

Radio installed with harness in between head unit and factory wiring.

End of harness meant to attach to the Parrot Blue Box (aka the bluetooth brains).

I wired a microphone for audio calls..  It is hidden, but I wanted to show where the cable came from.

I hid the cable behind this panel.

It went all the way down the side of the car to underneath the glove compartment.

This is the fuse box where I would have everything essentially meet.  Meaning all the cables and the various hubs would be located behind the fuse panel.  This gives easy access for trouble shooting down the line. Always think..  “Hey I might need to remove this.. where is a good spot to keep it?”

Fuse box in perspective of cabin

This is the harness mute adapter necessary for the Parrot unit.  It basically will mute the radio and route any audio that comes through the parrot unit to the factory speakers.  Not the ideal setup.  More on that later.

Parrot box connected to harness mute adapter.

Display wiring

Hiding the cable..

All cables attached to the Parrot unit.

iPod, usb, 3.5mm jack all located in the glove box.

The horror shot!  Yes.. these jobs are not easy!  Be vested in what you do because the passion will get you through complex installs.

FINISHED!!  All packed up..  Notice the Parrot remote on the steering wheels and the display above the radio.

Basically, when a phone call comes in you can answer it on your steering wheel.  When you listen to your iPod it displays album art and various other bits on information on the display above the radio.  If you stream your cell phone via a2dp for music it displays streaming on the display.  It works fairly nicely, but it is not perfect.  I have essentially given up on this unit.  It is valued at about $450.  I will probably sell it on ebay if I don’t know someone who wants to take it off of me.  My new solution is much nicer!  A lot more complex, but way sexier!  I am finishing up a post on the Sky and once that is done I will dive into how to redo an 07-09 GM car without bluetooth, without iPod, and without a2dp streaming.  It looks glorious!

Melius tarde, quam nunquam

haiti..

i am all for the support of Haiti..  give what you can I agree.

I am a little bit torn with the new We Are The World 25 for Haiti video..

I do like it and I love the concept, but for some reason the rap portion towards the end gets me.. I’ll just listen to original and donate just the same. : )

Contemplata aliis tradere

long week..

so one week ago from today..  It was my company’s “On” Friday week.  We work 9/80s, which means Mon-Thurs we work 7am-4:45pm (9hrs) and one Friday in the two week span we work 7am-3:45pm (8hrs).  This Friday I am off!  Time to work on my car and taxes! =)  and =(

Anyway, last week I was getting slaughtered at work (this week too).  Someone sent out the usual mass email on a Friday saying let’s do Happy Hour..   I was thrilled to see this email.  So my plan was after I get out of work.. I would pick the lady up and head out to Karl Strauss to meet the gang.. Sissy Chrissy.. the Bouncer.. Casey and T-Rex.. Jess and BQ.  Of course, I had decided to dip from work 10 minutes early because I wanted to relax with the lady before heading out, but just my luck.. my boss called me!  So I got tied in to some major meetings till 6:30pm.  So when I got out.. I was pretty bummed and just felt like my week could not get worse!  Guess what it didn’t!  I had a great time with Casey and Theresa and my lil’ lady..

The night starting out..  Casey and I with a $15 64-oz pitcher of 10.2% alcohol brew!

The night getting awesomer!  Casey and I have a good time up in TGIFridays!

I am sure the ladies were wondering why they hangout with such dorks!  : )

Corripe Cervisiam

no a2dp.. no problem… (part 3)

before reading this post make sure you read the previous post.

So I have been working on this for quite sometime and I have made significant progress.  Here is the latest and greatest.  I had a conversation with a nice tech guy from AAMP of America the parent company of the PXAMG.  I forgot to ask one questions, but I will list that at the bottom.  =)

mek_man: Hi, I am wondering what the target will be to market the BluStream.  I am really interested in buying one.  Also, how will it work exactly?  Any help would be appreciated.  I think this item will sell very fast! Regards, M. M.

AAMP of America: The BluStream should be available by the end of this month and will connect to the PXAMG to give iPhone bluetooth control through your factory radio.  It will display caller ID information on your radio when a call comes in allowing you to press a button on the radio to answer the call.

mek_man: Will it only work with iPhone a2dp? I read it would allow all bluetooth phones streaming?

AAMP of America: We have not tested with all of the phones but with most LG phones and the Droid, the streaming Bluetooth audio functions do work. The iPhone is going to be the only phone that all functions of the interface will operate with.

mek_man: Thank you for the information.   I actually own the Droid so that is good to hear.  Besides streaming audio function, do you know if the BluStream will accept artist/track info over bluetooth?

Also, can the BluStream work with the Sat Radio option and the iPod option?   Does the iPod option need to be kept for the BluStream to work?

Your help is greatly appreciated and the information will go along way as I know several people who have been looking for an option like this for a while.  Is it okay to share this info on public car forums?  Your email will be kept private.

AAMP of America: The radio will not pull up the artist/track information on your radio… it will just show “streaming” on your radio.  You will have the ability to do iPod and Bluetooth or iPod and Sat or Sat and Bluetooth.

There are only two ports available on the interface.

mek_man: This is really great to know.  Thank you for all your help and support.

Have a great weekend!

AAMP of America: No problem…have a good weekend!

mek_man: I realized I forgot to ask, will the BluStream allow for AVRCP across bluetooth?  So if track forward on the radio is pressed it will advance the next track playing via a2dp?

AAMP of America: …

Sine labore nihil

no a2dp.. no problem… (part 2)

before reading this post make sure you read the previous post.

So last night I pulled the trigger on my car mod for my 09 saturn sky.  I hopped on crutchfield.com and amazon.com and bought the necessary parts.  Both items should be here by Friday and hopefully Saturday or Sunday I will rip my car apart and install the unit.  I ended the previous post with concerns that the FIPO adapter would not work with the PXAMG iPod unit and I still have my doubts…  So that took me down a 4 hour aggressive google search to see what my other options would be if this mod didn’t work.

I searched forever and got so frustrated.  I don’t really know the reason for the frustration.  If what I was doing was so popular there would be many write-ups on how to do it.  So in some ways, whatever research I do will be beneficial if not for myself.. for the community.

“Will I still be able to traffic rocks in the community?” – Tron

So after my hours of research I found something very promising.  It seems that the makers of the PXAMG iPod unit have released a bluetooth add-on!  To be honest, I was curious why this was not done sooner.  I remember searching for this a few months ago.  I have really had this idea in my head for months.  It really popped into my head when I wanted to get a Palm Pre several months ago.  Palm introduced an induction unit called the TouchStone that charges the Pre wirelessly..  All part of my ideal wireless world.  Anyway, I digress.

So iSimple introduced BluSteam at the CES this year.

Time will tell how this unfolds, but the plan is to stick with my original plan.  Once it comes out I will reassess.  One thing is very sure and that is that I am very excited for these advancements.  If the unit really pulls through for me, I might retool what I did in my 2007 Pontiac Torrent.  Speaking of which, look for a post on my Parrot mki9200 install in the future. This was a Car Mod I did on my other car back in Oct 2009.

Brevis esse latoro obscurus fio

usb for what??

so what I really wanted for the Droid was the ability to have a samba client running on it.  The only reason being that the Droid’s only function of connecting to a computer, in my opinion, is for development, file transfer, and tethering.  I personally have used my Droid for tethering and file transfer via a USB cable and have never used the development features..  I will leave that to my older brother.  For the average android user, I doubt the development features will be used.  So that leaves us with tethering and file transfer.  I recently on my trip to SanFran tethered my Droid to blog while driving home. However, I could of easily done this via bluetooth.  The only problem is that bluetooth would be a bit slower, but some people argue saying it truly is the same speed for 3G browsing.  So file transfer is the other thing I use my USB cable for.  So after much research I was able to find EStrongs File Explorer which allows you to use wifi to connect to your pc to transfer files.  How cool is that?  I mainly transferred mp3s from my computer to my Droid, but now I can be anywhere in my place and connect over wifi to get the latest songs I want on my phone.

Pretty sweet!  One more step to becoming a more wireless world!

Obviously, you still need the USB cable to charge your phone.  =)  Although, they could release an induction mat for the Droid and the phone could truly be wireless!!

Crescat scientia, vita excolatur

no a2dp.. no problem…

so what’s a techie to do???

music (droid):  I love music!  Who doesn’t??  I listen to music probably a good 5-8 hours a day and ever since I got my “DROID!” I dumped my ipod.  It came with 16gb of flash memory that I can store music on.  Once the 32gb flash card comes out I will have my whole library of music on my phone.  How awesome is that??  No more carrying my iPod.. and my phone wherever I go.  Sounds cool doesn’t it??  Read on..

car:  My 09 sky is a sweet looking ride.  It comes with a 3.5mm jack to plug in any mp3 player you want.  Also nice right??  Read on..

music (droid) + car = annoying!

In today’s world with technology developing so fast car-makers are lost trying to keep up with the latest in advancements.   For example, about 9 years ago the iPod emerged and was the best mp3 player out there.  It clearly led the market (and still does via the iPhone).  It, by a landslide, has the most accessories out there for it.   Car-makers quickly learned the importance of the iPod and soon added “iPod” retrofits to existing cars and then soon added the iPod dock standard on most cars and if the car-maker didn’t make it an aftermarket vendor would.  Sounds great right??

nope..  People seem to think too one dimensional.  So we’ve solved the iPod in the car crisis, but how does that help me with my dilemma – when I try to listen to music in my car..  I have to first mount my phone..  then plug in a power cable..  followed by plugging in a 3.5mm audio jack..  find the music..  and then manually advance each track on my phone!?!?

You might say, “well how is that any different then the iPod setup in your car?”  Well, you’re right, I would have to do the same for my iPod because my car didn’t come standard with the dock.  In truth, I am glad it didn’t.. well sorta..

Why can’t car-makers think about this stuff??  Who wants to go through all the hassle to listen to music this way?   The old ways of wires is long gone.  Bluetooth baby!  It is the future (for the most part).

Most cars today will come standard with bluetooth, but not with A2DP support.  If it came with A2DP, you probably have paid a boat load to have it come with your car.  Your car is far beyond most.  Bluetooth came out years ago.   I had my first bluetooth headset in 2005!  It wasn’t even an option in the bulk of GM cars till 2009!!  However, it had come to more luxury brands sooner, but still, the average person has a cell phone but no BMW to go along with it..

So what the heck does this have to do with anything?  Well in all my frustration is the solution to my problem.  In truth the solution doesn’t exist.. yet!  If car-makers implemented bluetooth 2.0 with A2DP and AVRCP they would be designing for the future as most devices today support stereo bluetooth, mostly mobile phones and laptops.

So think about it..
- You walk into your car.. (normally would do this)
- You drop your phone in the dock.. (simple drop in dock)
- The phone pairs to your car.. (device does it automatically)
- You pick a playlist out that you want to listen too.. (or maybe you were already listening to a playlist)
- You want to skip the track?  No problem.  You hit your track forward button on your steering wheel/radio.. (perfect integration)
- When a phone call comes in you can easily answer it on your steering wheel.  The caller can hear you and you can hear them through your car speakers.. (once again perfect integration)

How cool would that be?  No fumbling with unlock codes on the cell phone or or plugging in a million cables to your phone.  If you don’t want to charge it, just leave the phone in your pocket.

So the dilemma for me is how do I make something that doesn’t exist for my sky exist.  Well the answer might be 5KY HIGH, but I don’t think so..

Here is the thought process for my solution..

- My 09 Sky came with hands-free bluetooth
- My DROID came with multiple bluetooth profiles to include A2DP with AVRCP
- GM/aftermarket vendors make an ipod dock for my car
- ANYCOM (company doesnt exist anymore at least i cant tell if they do or dont.. possible name change?) makes a bluetooth iPod dock adapter to allow A2DP through the iPod connection in your car or your iPod speaker system

So, in theory, what I want to do is achievable..

Here are some pics of what I will need.. minus tools and miscellaneous parts..

Interior of my car (minus the manual gearbox)
The right hand side of the steering wheel has two buttons on the bottom.  One is track forward and the other track back/end call. The far right button is to receive a call or voice dial.

Cable to go from my radio to the ipod adapter

iPod unit

FIPO bluetooth adapter

My droid + Seidio cradle

Side view of a seidio cradle
I would like to mount this somewhere in the car.   Basically, I would just drop my phone in here and it charges while providing me a clear view of the screen.

This probably would run me about $200.  There are a few concerns I have though.  I’m nervous that the FIPO is for simpler iPod units, speaker docks with minor functions and not robust functions like the PXAMG.  So, lucky for me, I will probably try out the iPod unit thanks to crutchfields no hassle satisfaction guarantee program.  I will take a chance with the FIPO adapter and worst case scenario I use it for some other application down the line.

Wish me luck.. I will probably post pictures if i get around to doing this car mod.  Man would it make my car awesome – pandora streaming..  GPS streaming..  mp3 streaming..  and google voice search integrated into my lil’ sky..

Ipsa scientia potesta est